Mariah Samuels was described by her family as a dedicated mother to two beautiful sons, a dog groomer who loved animals and someone passionate about living life to her fullest. That all ended abruptly on Sept. 14, when Samuels’ ex-boyfriend allegedly shot her 10 times outside her family home in north Minneapolis, killing her.
Samuels had been on the phone just that morning with 911 to inform them that her ex-boyfriend David Wright, who has since been charged in her killing, had violated a no-contact order. A Minnesota Star Tribune investigation into the killing published Thursday morning found that Minneapolis police didn’t take enough steps to ensure Samuels’ safety after she’d reported being pistol-whipped by Wright a month before and filing an order for protection.
The newspaper’s report has roiled the city in an already contentious election year — and exposed gaps in the police department’s response to domestic violence. City and county leaders have been frustrated by what they see as a lack of communication over Samuels’ killing and other violence against people of color in the city from Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey’s administration and the police department he oversees…